Gender and Religion

The Timpaus Banggai regard themselves an all-Muslim people. Both men and women attend prayers at the mosque. When attending prayers, men and boys older than 13 or 14 dress in clean shirts and wear a black, white, or burgundy songkok (cap or fez) on their head. Women and girls usually dress in their white pakaian Islam (Islamic clothing). It consists of large white headcloths, leaving only a small slit for the eyes, and a loose garment that covers the body from head to toe. Some children, both boys and girls, attend Islamic schools in the private homes of villagers who can read the scripts. A group of girls were taught sambra Islamic songs that they accompanied themselves with tambourines and flat drums. The villagers said that the song and music was to please Allah and to delight men.

A substantial number of men and women do bao koni, that is, prepare offerings for local traditional spirits. Members of both genders also believe that they can communicate with various spirits. This communication is important, for instance, in order to make a proper diagnosis during many cases of illness.

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